Shooting victim dies, charges elevated to murderJeff C. Ross, 48, discovered his wife, the woman he allegedly shot in the day before, died at Saint Mary's Regional Medical Center around 30 minutes before appearing in felony bond hearings. Ross stared at the floor and did not speak during the duration of his hearing. Ross was arrested on Thursday after Russellville police officers responded in reference to a shooting at approximately 3:15 p.m. When officers arrived on scene they found a fema...

No bond set for Barefield in double homicide Pope County Sheriff Investigator Eric Riggs testified during felony bond hearings that Tyler J. Barefield, 35, could clearly be seen on security footage at U-Pull-It Auto Salvage, where two bodies were found crushed inside a vehicle, wielding an AR-15 rifle. Barefield, who is one of three co-owners of the salvage yard, was arrested on Thursday for the murders of two Yell County men, Aaron Brock, 22, and Beau Dewitt, 22. The bodies were discove...

Shooting in Russellville ends in arrestRussellville Police officers responded to the 800 block of West 3rd Place at approximately 3:15 p.m. Thursday in reference to a shooting. Officers arrived on scene and found a female victim with a gunshot wound. Pope County EMS transported the female victim to Saint Mary’s Regional Medical Center. The female victim is said to be in critical condition. Officers also located and detained a possible suspect identified as Jeff Ross, 48, who was tr...

NY bombing case most high-profile since Boston bombingWASHINGTON — The federal charges portraying Manhattan bombing suspect Ahmad Khan Rahami as a man bent on murderous destruction set the stage for the most anticipated terror prosecution since the Boston Marathon bombing. As separate cases wind through federal courts in New Jersey and New York, prosecutors are sure to reveal more about the bombings that injured 31 people and the evidence that led to Rahami's capture early Monday morning after a ...

Man accused of knife attackJustin M. Bollinger, 28, limped into the courtroom on Monday during felony bond hearings. "I got hit by a car going 50," he told District Judge Don Bourne. "I got a broke toe. Every time I ask for dope ... they [the jailer] said they would get me checked up when I got in here, but they never did." Bollinger was arrested on Sept. 17 at approximately 11:17 p.m. in the area of Old Highway 64 west in London after Pope County Dispatchers were advis...

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BY TRAVIS SIMPSON
simpson@couriernews.comThe Courier Your Messenger For The River Valley

Salvage yard bodies identified Pope County Sheriff Shane Jones released the identities of two bodies found in a crushed car at a salvage yard in Russellville as that of Aaron Brock, 22, and Beau Dewitt, 22 — two Yell County men who went missing last Friday. According to a release from the Pope County Sheriff's office, the deaths are being investigated as a homicide. Jones said authorities currently have no suspects. "At this time we are running down leads," he said. The bod...

Bond hearingsThe following individuals appeared in felony bond hearings on Monday before District Judge Don Bourne. Their names, ages and bond amounts are listed. They will appear in Pope County Circuit Court at a later date. Bryant L. Smith, 25, theft by receiving and failure to appear -- $200,000. Michael J. Pelkey, 35, possession of a controlled substance -- $15,000. Dustin W. Whitten, 24, possession of a firearm by a felon -- $7,500. Damien T. Ford, 39...

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Compiled by Travis SimpsonThe Courier Your Messenger For The River Valley

19-year-old arrested for indecencyNathan C. Bacon, 19, had his bond set at $10,000 after District Judge Don Bourne determined probable cause to hold Bacon on charges of sexual indecency with a minor during felony bond hearings on Monday. Pope County Sheriff Investigator Chris Ridenhour testified authorities became aware of the incident after being contacted by the victim's parents. According to testimony, the victim, a 14-year-old female, was found sleeping in a car parked in ...

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BY TRAVIS SIMPSON
simpson@couriernews.comThe Courier Your Messenger For The River Valley

Man faces sexual indecency with a minor chargesNathan C. Bacon, 19, had his bond set at $10,000 after District Judge Don Bourne determined probable cause to hold Bacon on charges of sexual indecency with a minor during felony bond hearings on Monday. Pope County Sheriff Investigator Chris Ridenhour testified authorities became aware of the incident after being contacted by the victim's parents. According to testimony, the victim, a 14-year-old female, was found sleeping in a car parked in ...

Man accused of raping and 'sexually grooming' a 4-year oldThe Clarksville Police Department arrested Charles A. Watson II, 30, on Friday for his involvement in an alleged rape of a 4-year-old male. After being read his rights, Watson allegedly admitted to his involvement in the incident. Watson was placed into custody at the Johnson County Detention Center and charged with three counts of rape and sexually grooming a child. His bond was set at $100,000 during felony bond hearings on Monday by Circuit...

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Courier staff reportsThe Courier Your Messenger For The River Valley

Father gets 25 years in child deathCLARKSVILLE -- A 28-year-old Clarksville man has been sentenced to 25 years in the Arkansas Department of Correction after a 6-month-old infant was found dead in February. Fifth Judicial District Prosecuting Attorney David Gibbons confirmed that Brandon Lavert Patton pleaded no contest to first-degree battery, a Class Y felony, and the plea was accepted by Johnson County Circuit Judge William "Bill" Pearson on Sept. 2. On Feb. 25, Clarksville ...

Teen jailed after gun found on campusYell County Sheriff Bill Gilkey announced Wednesday that a 17-year-old juvenile male student at Two Rivers High School was taken into custody without incident earlier Wednesday, after an unloaded .22-caliber handgun was discovered in the studentâ€â ˘s vehicle which was parked on the school campus. The firearm was discovered after a school resource officer was advised of an anonymous call claiming a particular student had a firearm at the schoo...

Local man being held on rape charges; victim was 10-years-oldSteven R. Litsey, 32, shook his head as Pope County Sheriff Investigator Eric Riggs described Litsey's alleged systematic rape of a girl that began when she was 10 years old and continued for four years. Riggs testified during felony bond hearings Wednesday that the Pope County Sheriff's Office (PCSO) received a call from the girl's mother on Saturday after the victim penned a letter describing escalating sexual assaults against her that began...

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BY TRAVIS SIMPSONsimpson@couriernews.comThe Courier Your Messenger For The River Valley

Felon enters home, aims gun at coupleTimothy W. Harner, 36, was arrested on Saturday after he allegedly barged into someone's home uninvited and pointed a pistol at them. Harner had his bond set at $15,000 pending charges for being a felon in possession of a firearm on Monday during felony bond hearings inside the Pope County Detention Center. Pope County Sheriff's deputies responded in reference to an aggravated assault on Saturday. Once at the home, the complainant told officer...

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BY TRAVIS SIMPSON
simpson@couriernews.comThe Courier Your Messenger For The River Valley

Man busted with 81 pounds of potArkansas State Police recovered 81.4 pounds of marijuana in four large bundles at approximately 10:12 a.m. on Saturday after Vernon Vegas was pulled over for driving on the shoulder. Vegas, who appeared before District Judge Don Bourne on Monday, had his bond set at $25,000 for possession with purpose to deliver. According to a report provided by Arkansas State police, Vegas denied consent to search. The officer deployed his K-9 to sniff the v...

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BY TRAVIS SIMPSON
simpson@couriernews.comThe Courier Your Messenger For The River Valley

Man allegedly raped childJimmy D. Ford, 23, had his bond set at $100,000 during felony bond hearings for allegedly raping a 5-year-old female. Pope County Sheriff Investigator Chris Ridenhour testified that authorities became aware of the incident after receiving a call on the hot line. The victim indicated to her parents and forensic interviewers based out of a facility in Northwest Arkansas that Ford had "touched" her and "hurt her." Ford was arrested after he appea...

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BY TRAVIS SIMPSON
simpson@couriernews.comThe Courier Your Messenger For The River Valley

Officials say man brought gun to ATUTecorius K. Gibson, 19, was arrested on Friday after Arkansas Tech (ATU) Public Safety officers found a pistol in the glove box of a vehicle on campus. Lieutenant Mark Pyburn testified on Monday during felony bond hearings that officers were in a parking lot on campus issuing citations to vehicles lacking the proper parking hang tags when they came across a vehicle and claimed they could smell marijuana. Gibson appeared with the vehicle's owne...

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BY TRAVIS SIMPSON
simpson@couriernews.comThe Courier Your Messenger For The River Valley

Russellville Police ask for public’s assistanceThe Russellville Police Department attempted to apprehend a male, identified as Steven Payne, at approximately 10 am. Friday near the 3300 block of West Main Place in reference to a felony warrant out of Pope County. As officers approached Payne’s vehicle on foot, Payne fled in the vehicle almost striking one of the officers with the vehicle. Payne also almost struck another marked police unit while fleeing. Police were involved in a short pur...